Are you aware that if you rent a car without a credit/debit card, you'll need to leave a very hefty cash deposit, along with normally paying the rental fee up front?
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GagravarrMay 7 '13 at 9:53

Yes Gagravarr, probably your comment could be part of a response. I found out that some agencies require additional 30 $ per day as deposit if you want to pay cash, other people tell about 1000 $ deposit. What I'm looking for is real experiences in this field or, even better, somebody employed in this field willing to explain the policy without using "maybe", "it could be", "if you are lucky" and so on.
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shardMay 7 '13 at 9:57

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I've never tried it, but I've been stuck in line behind people who have. It's never quick, it always seems to involve handing over a huge pile of cash (think $1000+ - normally more than the credit card hold would be), and I've seen people turned away because that rental company didn't offer it. I can't tell you which in Las Vegas will do it though
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GagravarrMay 7 '13 at 10:07

I am pretty sure you HAVE to pay by credit card so they can still charge you in case of any damage discovered after you brought the car back, or to pay for tickets the rental company receive for the time when you had the car. The credit card is the "insurance" that the company can still get money from you after you walked out of the door.
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iHaveacomputerMay 7 '13 at 10:12

2 Answers
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Generally speaking (although there may well be exceptional circumstances) this is not done practice. Some car rental firms may allow you to partially pay in cash at the end of the rental period, if no damage has been done to the vehicle, but this is not the preferred method of payment. A credit/debit card is required, for the purposes of any damage incurred, but you will not be required to leave it behind with the rental company - the details will just be kept on file, in case any problems arise.

I mark your answer as accepted and I improve it with what I was replied to by Alamo when I asked them the same question. "Cash payment will only be accepted upon return of the rental vehicle. In order for you to pick up you must provide the rental agent with a valid credit card or debit card in the renter's name.". So, it really seems to be hardly possible to rent a car without having a credit card
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shardMay 9 '13 at 10:49

@shard I contacted Avis at the same time that I contacted Alamo, however have yet to receive a response from them. I am guessing that in exceptional circumstances, if you were to go in person to a rent-a-car company with a large amount of cash anything is possible, as money talks.
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SimonMay 9 '13 at 11:15

As many pointed out the issue is what happens when you leave the parking lot with their car. The car as it stands is liable for all things that happen with its car such as Traffic camera fine, Uncollected tolls, Accidents unless it can reasonably prove who was driving. That's why most require a credit card, and an ID under the same name. Renting for cash will necessitate some other form of your identification, such as a Utility Bill, which is the case for Las Vegas Cash Car Rentals, and Apex Car Rentals